"It's not just a theft of your TV, or someone coming in and taking your jewelry, it's theft of your family member," Kiger told the station.

A woman told the dog's owners in November that Gus had died from stress. She directed investigators to the source of her information.

Family members wrote in a Facebook post on Monday that that they are "uncertain" where Gus is.

Reid Albrecht is accused of abducting Gus. (Carmel Police Department)

Last month Albrecht asked his father to tell the dog's family that he had taken Gus. He said he "would buy them another dog even though they have another already," according to an arrest affidavit.

Albrecht is no longer in contact with the family.

The hopeful Kigers are keeping their missing dog's blanket hanging in their yard, Fox 59 reported.

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"Stealing a dog is stealing a family member," the family wrote on Facebook in February. "We are heartbroken every day that someone would do such a selfish thing to a family and we want him home and to know what happened to him."